According to an earlier report from the Express, out-of-favour Liverpool striker Divock Origi was on the radar of Watford. The Reds had asked for a handsome amount of £26million to part with the highly-rated youngster but the Hornets were clearly unwilling to fork out that kind of money for the 23-year-old.
Origi, who started his professional career with French outfit Lille, made his move to Anfield in 2014 but was loaned back to his former club immediately.
He continued his development over there before making his mark in the Premier League in the 2015-16 season where he scored 5 goals and registered an assist from 16 appearances. As a result of the promise that he showed, he was used on a more regular basis in the 2016-17 season where he scored 7 goals and racked up 3 assists from 34 appearances.
To be honest, he hasn’t done a bad job for the club as a youngster but has let the team down with his inconsistent form on multiple occasions.
The Belgian also has a good record in European competitions. However, he soon fell out of favour and was frozen out of the first-team scheme of things by Jurgen Klopp. Consequently, the Reds loaned him out to Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg last year where he scored 6 goals. The returns from the loan spell weren’t bad but they weren’t overwhelming either.
Despite boasting of loads of talent and potential, Origi has failed to make it big at Anfield and hasn’t managed to make any appearances for the Reds so far this season. Undoubtedly, it is not a good sight to see a player of his calibre constantly warming the benches and it definitely won’t be long before some other club agrees to meet Liverpool’s demands to snap him up.
The Hornets, on the other hand, made a remarkable start to the season with four wins out of four but Javi Gracia’s men just seem to have lost that golden touch in the last four games. Watford have managed to earn only a solitary point from their last four games, which includes a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Bournemouth. The Hornets are still placed 9th in the standings but they should look to capitalise on their stellar start by getting back to winning ways.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Hornets to reignite their interest in Divock Origi given that he is capable of adding an extra dimension to their attack. Liverpool have neither loaned him out nor have they used him this season, which should open the door for the potential suitors to lure the player away from Anfield and Watford should take the initiative in January.
The 23-year-old versatile Belgian is capable of playing as a wide man, a centre-forward and a supporting striker according to the need of the team. He has that lightning pace and the strength to outmuscle the defenders in the final third. Origi is also very strong in the air and combines his towering 6ft. 1-inch stature with his upper body strength to win headers inside the box.
Blessed with a good technique, he likes to dribble his way past the defenders and often drops deep to carry the ball forward with pace from deeper areas of the pitch. To go with his strength, dribbling and aerial prowess, he is also a very good shooter from long range.
Although he is not the most consistent of strikers at the age of 23 and sometimes doesn’t show enough tactical awareness in the final third to influence the play, he is a player with a massive potential and should be a good addition to the squad.
Troy Deeney and Andre Gray racked up the goals in the earlier stages of the season but they haven’t looked very threatening in the past few games. Also, using Origi at the flanks should add more width to the team and would lead to more build-up play from the wings.
The Hornets should be buoyed by the return of former Barcelona man Gerard Deulofeu and they should purchase Origi in January to combine with him. Origi will cost a handsome £26 million but the transfer would make Watford a more potent attacking force and might propel them to a top half finish this season.